Arthur Kurzweil

Walk your way through Jewish history, life, and culture—from Abraham to today Jewish History For Dummies provides unbiased, factual history of Jewish life, culture, and history. You’ll take a look at the roots of Jewish history, beginning in 2000 B.C.E. with Abraham and his descendants. Chapter by chapter, you’ll trace the evolution of the Jewish people through the biblical record and other sources, learning how King David united Israel, how the Jews were exiled under Babylonian rule, and how Jewish people have adapted to life in the diaspora, from ancient times all the way up to today. Whatever era of Jewish history you’re interested in, you’ll find comprehensive coverage in this Dummies guide. Inside: Consider how Jewish identity has evolved across centuries and millenia Learn what the biblical record tells us about the history of Judaism Read about each era in Jewish history, including the first Temple, the Crusades, the Holocaust, and modern-day Israel Become knowledgeable on Jewish life in the 21st century Jewish History For Dummies is a must for anyone looking to better understand the religious and cultural history of Judaism.

Unlock the wisdom, guidance, and spiritual insight of the Talmud The Talmud For Dummies introduces you to the Jewish guidebook on life and overall cornerstone text of Judaism, the Talmud. This easy-to-understand book makes the Talmud's 63 volumes approachable, so you can deepen your understanding of Jewish teachings. You'll learn about what the Talmud is, get guidance on how to approach Talmud study, and find direction on how to apply the wisdom of the Talmud in your personal and spiritual life. Read the fascinating history of the Talmud and the key figures who shaped itGet advice on how to study the Talmud and uncover its spiritual teachingsApply Talmudic wisdom to everyday life, including marriage, divorce, kosher practices, prayers, and even humorBecome well versed in the law of Rabbinic Judaism The Talmud For Dummies is your go-to resource for anyone who wants to study the Talmud, including complete beginners and those looking to brush up their knowledge. Discover the timeless teachings of this profound and influential book with The Talmud For Dummies at your side.

A trustworthy, easy-to-read guide to an integral part of Judaism Kabbalah For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your factual and objective guide to understanding Kabbalah—a spiritual practice, also known as the “received tradition,” that's connected to Judaism. This easy-to-follow resource walks you through how to connect to and better understand the Kabbalistic way of life, through explaining what Kabbalah is and isn't and detailing the Kabbalistic approach to the Torah, the Talmud, the Mishnah, and more Jewish texts. You'll also discover how to practice common rituals, worship, and pray as a practitioner of Kabbalah with this informative resource. Understand the foundations of Kabbalah (including core ideas)Know what Kabbalistic practice and study entailsDiscover key Kabbalah resources Perfect for practicing Kabbalists who want to brush up on the basics and for the Kabbalah-curious—Kabbalah For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a must-read resource for anyone who wants to understand the fundamentals of one of the world's great spiritual practices.

Arthur Kurzweil grew up hearing his father's tales of Dobromyl, the small town-a shtetl - in what is now Ukraine, which his father had left behind as a child when his family emigrated to New York in the 1920s. As a young man in the 1970s, Arthur obsessively sought to rediscover this lost world, researching in the New York Public Library and tracking down the shtetl's surviving emigrants. This research led him write his best-selling book, From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History, but his obsession with Dobromyl didn't abate.In The Persistence of Memory, Arthur brings us along on his quest to find his father's ancestral home in Dobromyl - a quest that covers physical and spiritual ground. Join him on a frustrating trip to Soviet-held Ukraine in the 1970s to multiple return trips to a free Ukraine in the 21st century, in a quest that brings him to the height of elation and to the depths of despair. His search for his father's roots leads him down paths that are wondrous, heartwarming, and heartbreaking.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz was internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant and influential rabbis of our time. He was lauded by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar" and by Ted Koppel of Night Line as "one of the very few wise men that I've ever met." Arthur Kurzweil -- himself a Jewish scholar, author, teacher, and publisher -- a disciple of Rabbi Steinsaltz's for more than 35 years, as well as the rabbi's designated chauffer in the United States. While stuck in countless traffic jams and attending the rabbi's lectures at universities, government agencies, synagogues and seminars, Arthur Kurzweil has had the rare opportunity of personally learning from his inspired teacher and has become intimately familiar with the rabbi's wisdom and teachings.On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz presents an intimate portrait of this wise and holy man as he has never been seen before as Kurzweil shares the rabbi's most personal, humorous, and inspiring tales.You will feel like a backseat passenger in Arthur's car as he and Rabbi Steinsaltz discuss provocative issues such as: How can we develop a personal relationship with God?What are some of the sublime ideas contained in Kabbalah?Why has God created a world with so much suffering in it?Can we be religious and live fully in the world?How can we tell what is important and what is unimportant in this life?Can we be religious and keep our sense of humor?Throughout the book Arthur Kurzweil also shares Rabbi Steinsaltz's views and teachings on Jewish identity and the role of Jews in modern society. So grab your overcoat and come along for a ride with Rabbi Steinsaltz and Arthur Kurzweil-a ride that could very well change your life.

This book - the first in a series on varied topics - is a compilation of the teachings of Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz. Each includes a source for further reading. They have been selected as a result of an almost desperate search to begin to develop a kind of "Steinsaltzian" set of marching orders for current and future students.

Since it was first published in 1980, From Generation to Generation has inspired thousands to pursue the unique challenges and rewards of Jewish genealogy. Far more engaging than a mere how-to reference guide, this landmark book is also part detective story and part spiritual quest. As Arthur Kurzweil takes you along on his own fascinating journey through his family’s past, you’ll learn about the tools, techniques, and the step-by-step process of Jewish genealogical research – including the most current information on using the Internet and the newly accessible archives of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. But even more, after reading this fully updated, revised, and beloved classic, you will undoubtedly be inspired to embark on a genealogical quest of your own!

An easy-to-understand introduction to Judaism's most sacred text The foundation of Hebrew and Jewish religion, thought, law, and society is the Torah-the parchment scroll containing the text of the Five Books of Moses that is located in every synagogue. This accessible guide explains the Torah in clear language, even to those who were not raised in the Jewish religious tradition. Christians who want to know more about the Jewish roots of Christianity need to understand the Torah, as do followers of Islamic tradition and those interested in the roots of Abrahamic faiths. The Torah For Dummies explains the history of the Torah, its structure and major principles, and how the Torah affects the daily lives of people who follow the Jewish way of life.

See how ancient Jewish mystical traditions and rituals can transform your lifeKabbalah For Dummies presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an “umbrella” for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and codification techniques. Kabbalah For Dummies also shows how Kabbalah simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can apply its teaching to everyday life.